Chapter 11

Zhou Zirong truly felt like he was going insane.

Looking at the person in front of him—someone he had only met a few times—his mind kept flashing back to Xu Yinghuai.

It was as if Xu Yinghuai had never died. As if Xu Yinghuai was still by his side.

As if this person was Xu Yinghuai.

His pupils trembled, his rationality and emotions waging an intense battle.

Even though he was certain that she looked nothing like the girl in his memories, the thought still lingered stubbornly in his mind.

Zhou Zirong felt his heart racing in disorder.

Maybe he really had gone mad.

His gaze burned into Chi Yi, so intense it felt as though he wanted to pierce straight into her soul.

Until she pursed her lips and apologized to him, “Alright, sorry, Boss Zhou. I was just… too anxious. I just wanted to say… you can’t just take medicine on an empty stomach. You know, a friend once sent me a WeChat video about this—it said if you take medicine on an empty stomach while having a stomachache, you might actually die.”

“You’re really worried about me?”

Xu Yinghuai was caught off guard by the question.

In the past, she had never cared enough to worry about Zhou Zirong.

But now…

She was Chi Yi.

Xu Yinghuai stiffly nodded, looking away as she forced herself to say,

“Yes, I’m worried about you.”

Her words echoed in the empty training room.

Xu Yinghuai felt momentarily dazed.

It turned out that showing concern for Zhou Zirong didn’t feel as unnatural as she thought.

Instead, it felt like a spring breaking free from the weight of a small stone that had been pressing it down for a long time, finally flowing with ease.

She didn’t have time to dwell on this strange yet warm emotion.

Because at this moment, there was something more important to do—

She had to make sure Zhou Zirong ate breakfast before taking his medicine.

Now that she had already spoken, it was as if she had unlocked a new ability. “I really do worry about you, Boss Zhou. You pay my salary. You even gave me a raise! Of course, I need to be concerned about you. I can’t let anything happen to your health.”

“So, even if you don’t want to, at least drink some porridge, okay?”

She brought over a bowl, turned the spoon toward him, and looked up at him with wide, blinking eyes.

Zhou Zirong, in pain, had a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. His lips curled slightly in an almost imperceptible arc.

That lingering thought in his heart finally dissipated.

He had simply been missing Xu Yinghuai so much that he was starting to see her everywhere.

But no one could truly be her.

She would never have said such words of concern to him.

Zhou Zirong lowered his gaze, hiding the disappointment in his eyes. He hunched slightly, clutching the hem of his T-shirt at his waist with one hand while picking up the spoon with the other. He took a sip of the porridge.

“Help me request leave from the production team. I need to attend a funeral in a few days.”

Xu Yinghuai’s eyelashes fluttered. She was almost certain that the funeral he was referring to was her own.

Then she asked, “Are you going straight to the set after the funeral?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” Xu Yinghuai suggested. “I can head to the set with you afterward.”

Zhou Zirong lifted his gaze and looked at her suspiciously.

Xu Yinghuai quickly found an excuse.

“I heard that the stomach is an emotional organ. Since your stomach isn’t in great condition, if you get too upset—”

“I can have medicine ready for you, take care of you, and make sure your work doesn’t get delayed.”

Zhou Zirong lowered his eyes again, swallowed another spoonful of porridge, and his Adam’s apple moved slightly. “Alright.”

“I’ll send you the address in advance.”

“And… make sure to dress appropriately.”

Xu Yinghuai was confused. “Huh?”

“My friend… she really loved looking pretty.” Zhou Zirong’s voice caught slightly before returning to normal. “She would probably want those attending her funeral to be dressed well too.”

“That way…” Zhou Zirong’s eyes reddened slightly as he spoke, but suddenly, he let out a soft chuckle. “She’ll be able to brag about it when she gets to heaven, saying her funeral was grand and dignified.”

…

Xu Yinghuai sat quietly in the corner, watching Zhou Zirong train.

His words kept echoing in her mind, like ripples spreading across water, touching something deep within her.

She had always been someone who valued appearances—both her own and others’.

Back when her family was still wealthy, she had taken vanity to the extreme.

And she had directed all of that vanity at Zhou Zirong.

It just so happened that during that time, Zhou Zirong was going through a rough patch.

He had been juggling academics and intensive training while also dealing with family business troubles. Stress had caused his skin to break out, and he barely had time to take care of his appearance.

By the time everything settled down, he looked utterly exhausted.

So when he invited Xu Yinghuai to be his prom date, she refused outright, even rolling her eyes at him. She told him he was too sloppy and that she’d be embarrassed to be seen with him.

That was just an excuse.

They had always bickered growing up, but in the end, things would blow over—usually with one of them offering a small peace offering, like candy or milk tea.

As they got older, those gestures of reconciliation became more significant.

Zhou Zirong would give Xu Yinghuai lipstick, perfume, and designer bags.

Xu Yinghuai, in turn, gave Zhou Zirong ties, more ties… and candy.

But before she had rejected him for prom, they had gotten into a huge fight.

She had been furious about something he had done, and for once, Zhou Zirong hadn’t backed down.

That was a grudge she couldn’t let go of.

So she had refused to be his date.

She never expected that one remark would stay with him to this day.

Even now, when he was a widely beloved film emperor.

A dull ache spread through her chest.

Xu Yinghuai lowered her head and tugged at a loose thread on her pants.

The emotions bubbling inside her refused to be suppressed.

…

The day before the funeral, Zhou Zirong transferred her some money and told her to buy appropriate attire.

When Xu Yinghuai saw the four-digit transfer, she nearly pinched herself.

But before she could, her fingers accidentally pressed against a pimple on her face, making her wince in pain.

Realizing that she was finally going to see Zhang Qiuwen and Xu Zhikang again—dressed properly and composed—she jumped up and shouted, “Yes!”

However, when she arrived at the mall, she instinctively walked into the stores she used to frequent.

The sales assistants’ judgmental looks made her pause.

Then, she picked up a price tag.

She froze in place.

So expensive!

My god!

Forget pride—

Xu Yinghuai lifted her chin, exuding the aura of “It’s not that I can’t afford it, it’s just that your merchandise isn’t good enough for me,” and walked out with her worn-out canvas shoes.

Hiding in a corner, she patted her chest.

How on earth were clothes this expensive?!

…

At the funeral, Xu Yinghuai’s heart ached when she saw her parents’ grief-stricken faces.

She wanted to rush up and hug them, but she knew she couldn’t.

So she simply lowered her eyes, suppressing her emotions.

Suddenly, Zhou Zirong nudged her elbow.

When she turned, eyes still red, he looked at her meaningfully and said,

“Go pick out a flower for me.”

“Make sure it’s the most beautiful one.”